LOS ANGELES, Sept 12 (AFP) - "Resident Evil: Apocalypse," a blast-em zombie movie based on a hot video game series, grossed some 23.7 million dollars in its debut to take the top spot at the North American box office, according to preliminary weekend figures released Sunday.
The movie -- a sequel to 2002's "Resident Evil" -- stars a bevy of scantily-clad heroines led by Milla Jovovich who battle zombies and evil corporate types to escape from a doomed city.
"Cellular," starring Kim Basinger as a kidnap victim who contacts a stranger via cel phone and begs him to rescue her, opened in the number two spot, raking in 10.6 million dollars, according to Encino, California-based Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.
The comedy "Without a Paddle," starring Dax Shepard, Seth Green and featuring Burt Reynolds, rowed into third place, collecting 4.5 millon dollars.
"Hero," a Chinese-language Miramax movie set in pre-imperial China that spent two weeks as number one, fell to number four but still raked in 4.4 million dollars.
Fifth place was Disney's latter-day fairy tale "Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement," starring Julie Andrews, pulling in 2.9 million dollars.
Rounding out the top 10 were "Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid" (2.9 million dollars), "Vanity Fair" (2.74 million), "Collateral" (2.7 million), "Napoleon Dynamite" (2.65 million) and "Paparazzi" (2.6 million).
Final weekend figures are due out Monday.